Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.
Another Day, Another Coup in West Africa
In the early morning of Sunday, heavy gunfire was heard near Guinea’s presidential palace, in capital Conakry, prompting fear of instability. This was followed by social media updates, where people of Guinea saw their President Mr. Condé being held in custody by some men in military attire. And then the leader of the group, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, the head of Guinea’s special forces, appeared on television to announce that he has staged a coup and urged the armed forces to back him. Thereupon, the constitution, government and all institutions were dissolved with an announcement that a new “union” government would be formed in weeks. Click here to read
Latest News in Africa
Islamists Thrashed by Liberal Parties in Morocco election
Morocco’s moderate Islamist party suffered major losses in parliamentary elections on Wednesday, a stinging setback in one of the last countries where Islamists had risen to power after the Arab Spring protests. Click here to read
Kenya removed from piracy red list
The global shipping industry has removed Kenya maritime waters within the Indian Ocean from the piracy red list, 12 years after it was designated a high-risk area (HRA). The move will save Kenya and East Africa millions of shillings in insurance and other security expenses, and could open up Kenya’s ports for more business. Click here to read
Protests and Repression in eSwatini Intensify
Since protests broke out in June, the police, military and security forces in eSwatini have killed at least 70 protesters and injured many more. eSwatini is the last feudal dictatorship in Africa, a system described by the current king, 53-year-old Mswati III, as a monarchical democracy, giving prominence to the monarchy and all power vested on him and his parasitic family. Click here to read
In Zimbabwe, Late President Mugabe Book Set to Be Launched
A book that discusses the life of Zimbabwe’s former President Robert Mugabe, published by the Richard Mahomva led Leader for Africa Network (LAN) is set to be launched virtually by the SAPES Trust. The book will be titled ‘ Remembering Robert Mugabe- Politics, Legacy and Death’. Click here to read
ONGC is Exploring Some Stakes of Woodside Oil in Senegal
India’s Oil & Natural Gas Corp. is exploring a purchase of a significant minority stake in the $4 billion-plus Sangomar oil project off the coast of Senegal from Woodside Petroleum Ltd., according to people familiar with the matter. Click here to read
Nigeria struggles to find buyers for Oil Exports
Nigeria has sent a signal that the recovery in global oil demand still has some way to go, with volumes for next month’s loading struggling to find a home, even among its main customers. Nigeria has sent a signal that the recovery in global oil demand still has some way to go, with volumes for next month’s loading struggling to find a home, even among its main customers. Click here to read
Mauritius ex-PM flown to India for Covid treatment
Mauritius former PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam flew to Delhi on Wednesday (September 8) on a charter for urgent Covid treatment at AIIMS. His condition is learnt to be serious. Click here to read
Central bank to promote reform of standing lending facility: Xinhuanet
September 24, 2021
China’s central bank will promote reform of the operation mode of its standing lending facility, as part of efforts to better meet reasonable liquidity needs. The reform, which is referred to as empowering the whole process with electronic technology, will improve efficiency and better stabilize market expectations, said Liu Guoqiang, vice governor of the People’s Bank of China, at a national video conference Thursday. Click here to read
Former Kweichow Moutai Group chairman given life sentence :Xinhuanet
September 23, 2021
Yuan Renguo, the former chairman of Kweichow Moutai Group that produces the high-end Moutai liquor in southwest China’s Guizhou Province, has been sentenced to life in prison for taking bribes, said a local court. The intermediate people’s court of Guiyang, capital of Guizhou, pronounced the sentence on Thursday. Click here to read
Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port signs MOU with China’s bus manufacturer: People’s Daily
September 24, 2021
Sri Lanka’s Hambantota International Port (HIP) has entered into a memorandum of understanding with bus manufacturer Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd. in China’s Fujian Province, HIP said in a statement here on Thursday. The MOU was signed at the King Long Motor Group offices in Fujian last week and was attended by representatives from the Hambantota International Ports Group (HIPG) and Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China Palitha Kohona. Click here to read
New guideline focuses on pilot FTZs: China Daily
September 23, 2021
The recent guideline on the reform of China’s pilot free-trade zones will effectively facilitate foreign investment in China, particularly in the services sector, and demonstrates China’s resolution for greater opening-up efforts, experts and industrial insiders said. On Sept 3, the State Council, China’s Cabinet, unveiled a guideline with innovative reform measures to facilitate investment in the country’s pilot FTZs. The new measures include unleashing the potential for offshore trade in these zones, fostering innovation in investment trade and increasing the diversity of commodity futures. Click here to read
Hydrogen stations to drive greener Olympics: China Daily
September 24, 2021
To prepare for the upcoming 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, a newly built hydrogen fueling station in the capital city’s northwestern Yanqing district went into operation last month. The hydrogen fuel produced by the station with a pressure rating of 70 megapascals is low-carbon, renewable and clean, and it can be used as a direct replacement for oil and gas, said Wang Yunlong, head of the station. Click here to read
China to accelerate building of intelligent, unmanned ports in next five years: Global Times
September 24, 2021
China’s Ministry of Transportation issued a plan on Thursday for the construction of new types of basic infrastructure over the next five years, under which accelerating the building of intelligent and unmanned ports was listed as a priority. The plan also comes at a time when China’s intelligent port manufacturing exports are rising rapidly, partly fueled by demand for high-efficiency port solutions and upgrading amid the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Observers said the new blueprint will further strengthen China’s smart port manufacturing ability and further boost its share of the global market. Click here to read
Affiliate of Chinese ride-hailing company fined $30,000 for leaving out Zangnan, Diaoyu Islands from country map of China: Global Times
September 23, 2021
An affiliate of Caocao Chuxing, a ride-hailing app in China that has gained a lot of popularity after industry giant Didi was embroiled in data breach problems, has been fined 200,000 yuan ($30,971) after it was found to have left out Zangnan (southern Tibet), the Diaoyu Islands and a number of other regions from a country map of China in a magazine commercial. Click here to read
Chinese law enforcers told use AI, big data to improve security in unstable times: South China Morning Post
September 24, 2021
A top Chinese security official has told law enforcement officers to make use of hi-tech tools like big data and artificial intelligence at a time of rising uncertainties at home and abroad.
Chen Yixin, secretary general of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which oversees law enforcement and security, made the remarks during a tour of southern Guangdong province last week. He visited seven cities – including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shanwei – and held seminars with local cadres during the three-day trip, according to a statement from the commission. Click here to read
Pacific trade pact row between Beijing and Taipei a dilemma for members: South China Morning Post
September 24, 2021
A new battleground has opened up between Beijing and Taipei, with an escalating war of words over their separate bids to join a trans-Pacific trade pact. Beijing is calling on the 11 members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to oppose the self-ruled island’s application, a move Taipei has called the act of an arch bully. Click here to read
Quad leaders, meeting in person for first time, are seen to plan several initiatives for confronting China: South China Morning Post
September 24, 2021
The leaders of a new military alliance that the Chinese government has lashed out against in recent months are gathering in Washington and, analysts say, Beijing’s reactions may be undermining its own interests by pushing the Quad into closer military coordination with other US allies. US President Joe Biden is to host the prime ministers of Australia, India and Japan – Scott Morrison, Narendra Modi and Yoshihide Suga – on Friday, after assembling the group via video link just months ago. The leaders of the Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, are likely to announce commitments in several nonmilitary areas, among them bolstering the global distribution of Covid-19 vaccines as well as cooperating on supply chain security, 5G telecommunications technology and the infrastructure needed to fight climate change. Click here to read
Beijing’s envoy to US declares China a democracy: Taipei Times
September 24, 2021
A top Chinese diplomat on Wednesday claimed that China is a democracy, saying that its political system exemplifies the ideals of former US president Abraham Lincoln and the ancient Greeks, who invented a representative form of government. Chinese Ambassador to the US Qin Gang cited the right of Chinese people to participate in certain elections and consultations over major policies as evidence of a democratic system not unlike that in the US. Click here to read
U.S. Commerce chief says more action to be taken on Huawei if needed: Reuters
September 24, 2021
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Thursday the Biden administration will take further action against Chinese telecoms firm Huawei if necessary, after some Republican lawmakers have pressed for more steps. Washington says Huawei is a national security threat on a variety of grounds and aggressively lobbied other countries not to use Huawei equipment in next-generation 5G networks. Citing Huawei’s ties to the Chinese government and military, Washington says this makes the company susceptible to “Chinese governmental pressure to participate in espionage.” read moreClick here to read
China expresses grave concern over U.S.-UK-Australia nuclear submarine cooperation: Xinhuanet
September 22, 2021
China on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the cooperation between the United States, the UK and Australia on nuclear submarines, stating that it deliberately escalates regional tensions, provokes an arms race, threatens regional peace and stability, and undermines international nuclear non-proliferation efforts. Click here to read
China issues guideline for IPR development: Xinhuanet
September 22, 2021
China released a 15-year plan (2021-2035) on the development of intellectual property rights (IPR) Wednesday. The plan, which demands stricter IPR protection, a high level of public satisfaction, and greater market value of IPR by 2025, was released by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council. Click here to read
Chinese diplomat calls on int’l community eliminate legacies of colonialism: People’s Daily
September 23, 2021
Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations at Geneva, Chen Xu, on Wednesday urged the international community to make more efforts to eliminate the negative impact of legacies of colonialism, promote and protect human rights, and enhance international justice. Click here to read
China’s GDP forecast to hover above 8%: China Daily
September 23, 2021
China is expected to see 8.1 percent economic growth this year, as solid export performance and increased fiscal support in the second half will offset a more protracted recovery in household consumption, said economists at the Asian Development Bank. The forecast made by the Manila-based development bank on Wednesday was unchanged from its projection in April. However, the ADB lowered the GDP growth forecast for developing Asia, which groups 46 developing economies in the Asia-Pacific region that are members of the bank, to 7.1 percent this year, down from the prediction of 7.3 percent in April. Click here to read
New plan adopted to lift domestic demand: China Daily
September 23, 2021
The State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday adopted the 14th Five-Year Plan for New Infrastructure Development, to spur domestic demand, economic transformation and growth sustainability. In the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), a well-calibrated layout will be in place for the development of new infrastructure, underpinned by information networks and technological innovation. This is conducive to sustaining growth, facilitating structural adjustments and benefiting the people. Click here to read
Economic sanctions on Afghanistan must end, humanitarian aid is of great urgency, says Chinese FM Wang Yi: Global Times
September 23, 2021
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday called for immediate humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and said economic sanctions should be lifted among other suggestions to jointly bring peace to the war-torn country. Wang made the remarks at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting on Afghanistan via video link. Click here to read
China’s J-16D electronic warfare jet to make debut at Airshow China: Global Times
September 22, 2021
The J-16D, the electronic warfare variant of China’s J-16 fighter jet, will make its debut at the Airshow China next week. This indicates that the aircraft is in service with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and will give it an edge in electromagnetic space with powerful jamming capability, experts said on Wednesday. A J-16D aircraft landed in Zhuhai, South China’s Guangdong Province on Tuesday afternoon in preparation for its debut at the Airshow China, to be held from September 28 to October 3 in the city, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Wednesday. Click here to read
China sees slower R&D growth in 2020 as government spending on science and technology fell amid the Covid-19 pandemic: South China Morning Post
September 22, 2021
Research and development spending made up a record 2.4 per cent of China’s economy in 2020, according to government statistics, moving closer to levels of R&D intensity in other advanced economies as spending slowed down as a result of interruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic. China spent a total of 2.43 trillion yuan (US$375.7 billion) on R&D in 2020, up 10.2 per cent from the previous year, according to a report published jointly by the National Bureau of Statistics, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Finance Ministry on Wednesday. It marked a slowdown from 12.5 per cent growth in the previous year. Click here to read
Xiaomi denies censoring users after Lithuania recommends avoiding Chinese smartphones: South China Morning Post
September 23, 2021
China’s Xiaomi said on Wednesday that its devices do not censor users’ communications, a day after Lithuania’s Defence Ministry recommended that consumers avoid Chinese phones due to a censoring feature in the smartphone giant’s flagship phone. The censoring capability in Xiaomi’s Mi 10T 5G phone software has been turned off for the “European Union region” but can be turned on remotely at any time, the National Cyber Security Centre said in a report on Tuesday. Click here to read
China sending COVID-19 aid to Burmese rebels: Taipei Times
September 23, 2021
Delivering vaccines to Myanmar’s junta, but also to rebel groups that are the generals’ sworn enemies, China is playing both sides to strengthen its hand in the messy politics of its southern neighbor. Beijing has already handed over nearly 13 million doses to the generals, who in February ousted the government of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and plunged Myanmar and its healthcare system into chaos. Click here to read
China Evergrande agreed to settle interest payments on a domestic bond on Wednesday, while the Chinese central bank injected cash into the banking system, temporarily soothing fears of imminent contagion from the debt-laden property developer. Evergrande , Asia’s biggest junk-bond issuer, is so entangled with China’s broader economy that its fate has kept global stock and bond markets on tenterhooks as late debt payments could trigger so-called cross-defaults. Click here to read
U.S.-China tensions knock 96% off of bilateral tech investment
Political tensions have decimated tech-sector investment between the U.S. and China as the world’s two biggest economies attempt to decouple their supply chains, according to a recent report. Between 2016 and 2020, overall direct investment between the two countries fell 75% from $62 billion to $16 billion, with the tech sector alone plunging 96% over the period, according to Bain and Co.’s latest annual technology report released on Sept 20. Investments from China to the U.S. fell much more steeply than those in the opposite direction due to Washington’s crackdown on Chinese companies creating geopolitical uncertainties for businesses, Anne Hoecker, the partner with Bain & Co. who led the research, told Nikkei Asia. “The business environment for Chinese companies in the U.S. was probably a little bit less secure than it was before, and they [China] just turned their focus to investments in Europe and Africa,” said Hoecker, who specializes in technology and semiconductor practices.Chinese overall direct investment to the U.S. dwindled to just $7.2 billion in 2020 from $48.5 billion in 2016. U.S. investment in China dropped 35% to $8.69 billion over the same period. Click here to read…
Raise debt limit or face crisis, warn US CEOs
Business Roundtable, an association of over 200 chief executive officers (CEOs) of America’s leading companies, on Sept 15 warned US congressional leaders of the prospect of an economic crisis if they fail to swiftly raise the debt limit. “Failure to lift the US federal debt limit to meet US obligations would produce an otherwise avoidable crisis and pose unacceptable risk to the nation’s economic growth, job creation and financial markets,” the letter read. Doug McMillon, chairman of Business Roundtable and president & CEO of Walmart, and Joshua Bolten, president & CEO of Business Roundtable, were among the writers of the letter to congressional leaders. “An extended period of uncertainty around the debt ceiling poses an even higher risk than usual as America continues to confront economic risk from the pandemic,” the executives wrote. Moreover, erosion of the country’s credit position would also result in “permanently higher borrowing costs” for the federal government and American companies, they warned, urging Congress to raise the debt limit “well before the mid-October deadline.” Click here to read…
Beijing’s bid to join CPTPP may fail yet also succeed, experts say
Beijing’s attempt to join the 11-country Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) may be a tough sell for members with which it has strained relations, such as Australia, Japan and Canada, but experts said it signalled to the region that China was a willing strategic partner, and to the United States that it would not be pushed around. It had already floated the idea to members after President Xi Jinping said last November his country was seriously interested in joining. A Beijing-based professor, who declined to be named because of the political sensitivity, said it was very unlikely China would agree to CPTPP requirements or that members would trust China to follow those standards if it committed to. “This is very likely to be a diplomatic démarche, rather than pursued out of long-term economic calculation,” they said. “It is just like the rationale for signing the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment with the European Union. Perhaps the Chinese government feels that it needs to send this message to the US that China cannot be boycotted. Click here to read…
Beijing to break up Ant’s Alipay and force creation of separate loans app
Beijing wants to break up Alipay, the 1bn-plus-user superapp owned by Jack Ma’s Ant Group and create a separate app for the company’s highly profitable loans business, in the most visible restructuring yet of the fintech giant.Chinese regulators have already ordered Ant to separate the back end of its two lending businesses, Huabei, which is similar to a traditional credit card, and Jiebei, which makes small unsecured loans, from the rest of its financial offerings and bring in outside shareholders. Now officials want the two businesses to be split into an independent app as well. The plan would also require Ant to turn over the user data that underpins its lending decisions to a new credit scoring joint venture which would be partly state-owned, according to two people familiar with the process. “The government believes big tech’s monopoly power comes from their control of data,” said one person close to financial regulators in Beijing. “It wants to end that.” The move may slow down Ant’s lending business, with the enormous growth of Huabei and Jiebei partly powering its planned IPO last year. The CreditTech unit, which includes the two units, overtook Ant’s main payment processing business for the first time in the first half of 2020, to account for 39 per cent of the group’s revenues. Click here to read…
Climate change to force mass migration
Reduced agricultural production, water scarcity, rising sea levels and other effects of climate change could cause up to 216 million people to leave their homes and migrate within their own countries by 2050, the World Bank has warned. The estimate from the Washington-based development lender released Sept 13 updates a 2018 report with new figures from Eastern Europe and Central Asia, North Africa and East Asia and the Pacific to provide a more complete overview of the potential toll from rising global temperatures.”Climate change is an increasingly potent driver of migration,” the report said. Shortages of food and water along with rising seas highlight “the urgency for action as livelihoods and human well-being are placed under increasing strain.”Juergen Voegele, the World Bank’s vice president for sustainable development, said the data give a “global estimate” of the scale of potential migration. Click here to read…
China seeks to lure new international corporate sustainability body to capital
China is trying to persuade a new international agency that will set corporate rules on climate change and environmental reporting to set up its headquarters in Beijing. The effort to bring the International Sustainability Standards Board to the capital is part of China’s efforts to stop its economy becoming decoupled from the rest of the world and play a leading part in international ruling bodies. It follows its application this week to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and discussions with the Group of 20 over global tax rates and e-commerce. The creation of the new body, which is being set up by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation, was endorsed by a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers in Venice in July. In his letter this week to Erkki Liikanen, chairman of IFRS Foundation Trustees and former governor of the Finnish central bank, Finance Minister Liu Kun pledged to “work together” to ensure the body could be set up early. “We warmly invite the trustees to set up the [sustainability board] headquarters in Beijing,” said the document, dated Sept 14 and published online on Sept 17. Click here to read…
Taiwan investment delegation to visit Slovakia, Czech Republic, Lithuania
A Taiwan investment delegation will visit Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Lithuania Oct. 20-30 as part of government efforts to enhance business and trade ties with the EU member states, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sept. 14. Led by National Development Council Minister Kung Ming-hsin, the 65-member group comprising officials and business leaders will work with regional counterparts on building interconnected and resilient supply chains for the democratic world, the MOFA said.Taiwan, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Lithuania are like-minded partners sharing the values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights, the MOFA said, adding that the country enjoys increasingly frequent exchanges with all three EU member states.The historic visit to Taiwan by the Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil and his delegation Aug. 30 to Sept. 4, 2020, is also a contributing factor, the ministry added.According to the MOFA, the tour is expected to expand the reach of Taiwan firms in key industrial sectors, help fast track supply chain restructuring among global democratic partners and promote peace, stability and prosperity for people. Click here to read…
Taiwan calls for quick start to trade talks with EU
Taiwan’s government called on the European Union to quickly begin trade talks after the bloc pledged to seek a trade deal with the tech-heavyweight island, something Taipei has long angled for. The EU included Taiwan on its list of trade partners for a potential bilateral investment agreement in 2015, the year before President Tsai Ing-wen first became Taiwan’s president but has not held talks with Taiwan on the issue since then.Responding to the EU’s newly announced strategy to boost its presence in the Indo-Pacific, including seeking a trade deal with Taiwan, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said on Sept 17 talks should start soon. The European Parliament has already given its backing to a EU trade deal with Taiwan. “We call on the European Union to initiate the pre-negotiation work of impact assessment, public consultation and scope definition for a Bilateral Investment Agreement with Taiwan as soon as possible in accordance with the resolutions of the European Parliament,” it said. Click here to read…
Airlines’ Debt Pile Hits $340 Billion as Covid Chokes Travel
Airlines are piling on more debt as surging coronavirus cases force travellers to cancel plans and stay home. The industry’s outstanding debt has jumped 23% since 2020 to $340 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. So far this year, global air carriers have sold $63 billion in bonds and loans. It’s more evidence that the industry faces a bumpy road ahead, with many border restrictions still in place and the highseason of summer vacations in the U.S. and Europe coming to an end. EasyJet Plc and Japan Airlines Co. announced new fundraising plans this month to help them weather the prolonged pandemic. “The spread of the Delta variant may lead to other countries imposing tougher quarantine rules on visitors,” said Susannah Streeter, a senior investment and markets analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. Many carriers are returning to the bond market after last year’s dash-for-cash when the pandemic first struck. The big sales show that investors are still ready and willing to give ample funding to the industry. Click here to read…
Suit claims BP trader sacked for raising Nigeria bribe concerns
BP Plc fired an ex-oil trader because he voiced concerns about bribes being paid in Nigeria to secure local contracts, according to a sprawling London employment suit that sheds light on the energy giant’s lucrative trading floor. Jonathan Zarembok, who traded on BP’s West Africa desk, said that the company paid an “abnormally large” fee to a local agent to participate in a state oil tender. He alleged that BP’s traders also sought to make payments in a deal that would have been the largest the desk had ever struck in Nigeria, before the transaction was ended, according to the lawsuit. “We were paying agents in Nigeria huge multiples of what we paid in other regions even though those agents did not perform services of any real value to BP,” Zarembok said in his witness statement. “Our proposed reasons for paying the agent these sums were a sham.”BP argued that the payments were legitimate and were fully scrutinized by its deal governance board that included the trading floor’s most senior executives. Lawyers for the firm said that the bribery allegations were investigated and couldn’t be substantiated. Zarembok didn’t raise specific concerns about corruption at the time, BP said. Click here to read…
Strategic
Biden denies China’s Xi turned down meeting offer
U.S. President Joe Biden denied on Sept 14 a media report that his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, last week turned down an offer from Biden for a face-to-face meeting. The Financial Times cited multiple people briefed on a 90-minute call between the two leaders last week as saying Xi did not take Biden up on the offer and instead insisted that Washington adopt a less strident tone toward Beijing. “It’s not true,” Biden said when asked by reporters if he was disappointed that Xi did not want to meet with him.Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said in a statement earlier on Sept 14 that the report was “not an accurate portrayal of the call. Period.” A source who was among those briefed on the call confirmed the report was accurate.The G20 summit in Italy in October has been talked about as a possible venue for a face-to-face meeting, but Xi has not left China since the outbreak of the pandemic early last year.In his statement, Sullivan added: “As we’ve said, the Presidents discussed the importance of being able to have private discussions between the two leaders, and we’re going to respect that.” Click here to read…
Blinken defends Afghan withdrawal at angry U.S. congressional hearing
Secretary of State Antony Blinken beat back criticism of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan on Sept 13, at a contentious congressional hearing where at least one Republican called on him to resign.In testy exchanges with lawmakers, Blinken defended President Joe Biden’s decision to pull out and pushed back on accusations that the State Department might have done more to help Americans and at-risk Afghans to be evacuated, blaming the previous administration for lacking a plan. He repeatedly noted that Republican former President Donald Trump had negotiated the withdrawal agreement with the Taliban and said President Joe Biden’s administration did not consider renegotiating because of threats from the group to resume killing Americans.”There’s no evidence that staying longer would have made the Afghan security forces or the Afghan government any more resilient or self-sustaining,” Blinken said.”We inherited a deadline. We did not inherit a plan,” Blinken said, referring to the Trump administration’s agreement to remove all U.S. forces from Afghanistan by May 1.Members of Congress – Biden’s fellow Democrats as well as opposition Republicans — have planned hearings since the Taliban seized control of the country last month after a rapid advance. Click here to read…
Taliban Deny Rift Within Ranks of New Afghan Leadership
Taliban leaders insisted that there is no rift within the Islamist movement over how to rule Afghanistan, with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a deputy prime minister, appearing Sept 16 on state television to squelch rumours of his death or injury. Mr. Baradar, who headed the Taliban’s political office in Doha, Qatar, and signed the February 2020 Doha agreement on the withdrawal of American troops, skipped Sept 05 meeting between the Taliban leadership and the visiting foreign minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. Sheikh Mohammed’s trip was the first and so far only public ministerial-level visit to Kabul since the Taliban seized the Afghan capital on Aug. 15 and proclaimed a restoration of their Islamic Emirate, deposing the Afghan republic established following the 2001 U.S. invasion. Mr. Baradar, a relative moderate, was flown back to Afghanistan aboard a Qatari military aircraft last month, and his absence from the meeting with Sheikh Mohammed sparked a swirl of social-media speculation about conflict within the Taliban. Kabul residents relayed rumours about an alleged shootout in the presidential palace between Mr. Baradar and leaders of the Haqqani family, another power center within the Islamist movement. It didn’t help that it had taken days for Mr. Baradar to surface on video since then. Click here to read…
Regional powers at summit demand U.S. fund Afghan aid
Russia, China, Pakistan and other regional states called on the United States on Sept 17 to engage with the Taliban and fund aid to Afghanistan, though they also urged the former insurgents to yield power to a more inclusive government. Leaders of the SCO group said it was the responsibility of the West in general and the United States in particular to help avert a humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan, where Western aid propped up the government swept away by the Taliban last month. “The main part of the expenses related to Afghanistan’s post-conflict rebuilding should be borne by the United States and NATO countries who are directly responsible for the grave consequences of their prolonged presence in the country,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said. He called on Washington to unfreeze assets of the Afghan central bank, which have been blocked since the Taliban takeover, saying without access to the funds, Afghanistan’s new rulers would be tempted to turn to the drugs and arms trades. China’s President Xi Jinping, without mentioning the United States by name, said “certain countries” should assume their due responsibilities for Afghanistan’s future development, having been “instigators” of the situation. Click here to read…
Quad leaders to call for securing chip supply chain
Leaders from the U.S., Japan, India and Australia will agree to work toward creating a safe supply chain for semiconductors when they meet for the Quad summit in Washington next week, a signal that the four-way alliance meant to counter China in the Indo-Pacific is broadening its scope. The four nations are expected to confirm that “resilient, diverse and secure technology supply chains for hardware, software, and services” are vital to their shared national interests, according to the draft of a joint statement obtained by Nikkei. The document sets common principles on technological development, holding that “the way in which technology is designed, developed, governed and used should be shaped by our shared democratic values and respect for universal human rights. “The draft of the joint statement does not specifically mention China, a nod to India’s intention to keep its nonaligned status and avoid moving forward on cooperation with specific countries. Still, in an apparent reference to China’s alleged tech misappropriation, the draft stresses that “illicit transfer or theft of technology is a common challenge that undermines the very foundation of global technological development and should be addressed.” Click here to read…
Myanmar shadow government sets up office in South Korea
Myanmar’s pro-democracy camp opposing the military regime that took over the country has established a representative office in South Korea. This is the National Unity Government’s first representative office in Asia, having already set up in the U.S., the U.K., France, Czech Republic and Australia. The pro-democracy camp launched its first-ever representative office in the U.S. in February, according to NUG members. This was followed by the opening of the Czech office in May. “The representatives have been officially appointed, and their credentials have been provided to diplomatic officials in those countries,” said an NUG official. The NUG was formed in April by lawmakers of the National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, and others. Its activities have mostly been carried out online. The NUG has been trying to win recognition from the international community as the legitimate government of Myanmar while the military, which assumed power on Feb. 1, tightens its control of the country. Establishing a representative office alone does not mean that a host nation has officially recognized the NUG, but it could facilitate dialogue. Click here to read…
Turkey’s push into Africa has China looking over its shoulder
Turkey’s inroads into Africa have seen the country expand the number of embassies in Africa to 43 from just 12 in 2002. During his time in power since 2003 — both as prime minister and president — Erdogan has visited 28 different African countries for a total of 38 times, making him the most frequent-visiting global leader to the continent. Calling Turkey “an Afro-Eurasia state,” Erdogan has used every tool in his kit to engage with African states. In Muslim African countries, Turkey has built mosques. In Northern Africa, Erdogan has used the Ottoman card, talking about the historic ties. In countries unhappy with old colonial powers exploiting oil and minerals, Erdogan uses his favourite move serving as the “voice of the oppressed people.” Turkey’s web of relations is not well understood in the West. Richard Outzen, a geopolitical consultant and former member of the U.S. State Department’s Policy Planning Staff, says that of all the misconceptions in Washington about Turkey, the notion that Ankara is diplomatically isolated is “perhaps the most distorted of all the lenses.”For Turkey, the new target is penetration into sub-Saharan Africa, utilizing the newly established embassies, commercial counsellors and direct flights. Click here to read…
Hundreds of aid trucks have failed to return from Tigray, UN says
Hundreds of aid trucks have not returned from Ethiopia’s war-hit Tigray region, and their disappearance is “the primary impediment” to ramping up the humanitarian response, the United Nations has said. The disclosure on Sept 17 from the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) comes amid rising fears of starvation deaths in Tigray, where the UN has previously estimated that about 350,000 people faced famine-like conditions. Since July 12, 445 contracted non-WFP trucks have entered Tigray, but only 38 have returned, WFP spokeswoman Gemma Snowdon said in a statement. “At the moment this is the primary impediment to moving humanitarian aid into Tigray. We are unable to assemble convoys of significant size due to lack of trucks,” Snowdon said. “We are continuing to work with transporters and local authorities in Tigray for trucks to be released.” WFP has no information about where the trucks are or what they are being used for, Snowdon said. Northern Ethiopia has been racked by violence since last November when President Abiy Ahmed, the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner, sent troops into Tigray, saying the move was in response to attacks on army camps by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Click here to read…
Secret Syria talks speak to a post-US Middle East era
In early September, a delegation of leaders from Lebanon’s Druze community met with Syrian leader Bashar Al-Assad in Damascus, a move that surprised many regional observers.This was because the Syrian president’s status – after years of brutal and bloody civil war – has been largely that of international pariah. Yet, as the often-ostracized Al-Assad reportedly remarked to his Lebanese visitors, these days, “Many leaders of Arab and non-Arab states are communicating with us, but asking us to keep this a secret.” Those “secret” contacts have been ratcheting up in recent days against the background of renewed conflict inside Syria.Indeed, with Russian, Iranian and pro-Assad forces finally crushing a new uprising in the southern Syrian city of Dara’a earlier this month, the diplomatic players have been moving around the Middle Eastern checkerboard at an unusual rate. On August 28, leaders and foreign ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq (plus France) met in Baghdad. Joining them were foreign ministers from Iran and Saudi Arabia – long major regional rivals. Similarly, the UAE and Turkey also met at the summit, despite major disputes over issues ranging from Libya to the Middle Eastern status quo. Click here to read…
What Iran’s membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation means
Iran’s bid to become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was approved after almost 15 years by the bloc’s seven permanent members on Sept 17. After the technical and legal process concludes – which could take up to two years – Iran will formally join a group that accounts for about one-third of the world’s land and exports trillions of dollars annually – as it counts China, Russia and India, in addition to several Central Asian states, among its members. Following his return from a summit in Tajikistan’s Dushanbe, President Ebrahim Raisi termed the approval a “diplomatic success” that means linking Iran to the economic infrastructures of Asia and its vast resources.During a speech at the two-day summit, he had denounced “unilateralism” by the United States and called for a concerted effort to fight sanctions. President Raisi held a string of high-level bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the SCO summit. Among other things, they led to the signing of eight agreements with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon. The two set a target of $500m for annual bilateral trade, which is close to 10 times higher than the current levels.Rather than major political or economic gains, Iran’s main takeaway from this success in the short term may be limited to a boost in prestige and diplomacy. Click here to read…
US Coast Guard spots Chinese warships off Alaska
Four Chinese warships, including one of its most advanced destroyers, were spotted sailing in the waters off Alaska late last month as the Chinese navy steadily expands its range, according to photos posted on a Pentagon information service. The photos taken by the US Coast Guard showed the four Chinese naval vessels shadowed by two US Coast Guard cutters in international waters within the US’ exclusive economic zone in the Aleutian Islands on August 29 and August 30, according to the Defence Visual Information Distribution Service. According to the photo captions, the US and Chinese vessels had “safe and professional” interactions and their verbal communications were in accordance with international standards, including the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, a non-legally binding agreement to prevent clashes at sea. The Chinese vessels were a Type 055 destroyer, a Type 052D destroyer, a Type 815 spy ship and a Type 903 replenishment ship. The photos were posted online on Sept 13 and removed hours later. The Chinese defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Click here to read…
Chinese military steps up night drills and brings in more advanced equipment close to Indian border
The Chinese military’s Western Theatre Command has introduced more night drills for units stationed near the Himalayan border as it seeks to familiarise its troops with new-generation weapons and equipment. Since the start of the autumn, several forces in the Xinjiang military district have been carrying out night battle drills at altitudes of around 5,000 metres (16,400 feet), according to the military newspaper PLA Daily. “We have revised our schedules and demanded soldiers meet higher standards for high-altitude training as we need to deal with a harsher battlefield environment amid increasing challenges in the peripheral areas,” Yang Yang, a company commander, told the newspaper. Yang said his mechanised force had been crossing the snowy highlands without lights and practising night-time live-fire machine gun drills. Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor, said almost all the old generation J-7 fighter jets in the Western Military Command had been replaced by the advanced J-16 multirole strike fighter. “All advanced weapons need to be repeatedly tested through regular drills, and pilots flying at high altitudes need to cooperate with land forces, special combat troops and other units in the modern joint operation concept,” Song said. Click here to read…
How a submarine deal sparked a major diplomatic crisis
Australia’s decision to cancel a multibillion-dollar order for French submarines in favour of American and British technology has sparked a diplomatic row of unprecedented proportions between long time Western allies. The French foreign ministry recalled its ambassadors to the United States and Australia citing “duplicity, disdain and lies”. Alongside the economic damage for tens of billions of euros, France said it resents the way Australia and its partners have handled the matter. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, said, “There has been contempt so it’s not going well between us, not at all.” President Emmanuel Macron will have a call with his US counterpart, Joe Biden, in the next few days, the French government said on Sept 19.Australia announced on Sept 15 it would ditch a contract worth more than 50 billion euros ($59bn) to acquire 12 French-made diesel-electric submarines. Instead, it will commission at least eight US nuclear-powered submarines in the framework of a new alliance – known by its acronym AUKUS. The partnership, however, cuts France out of the procurement deal it won in 2016 over offers from Germany and Japan. The US and the UK had not taken part in the bidding process. Click here to read…
‘Not a defence alliance’: Australia looks to assuage Asean’s concerns over Aukus nuclear subs deal
Australia on Sept 20 sought to assuage regional anxieties over its plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines through a joint arrangement with Britain and the United States, with Canberra’s envoy to Asean saying the agreement was “not a defence alliance or pact”. In a statement, Will Nankervis said the arrangement would not change “Australia’s commitment to Asean nor our ongoing support for the Asean-led regional infrastructure”. Canberra was committed to continuing to foster a “peaceful, secure region” with the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations at its centre, Jakarta-based Nankervis said. His comments follow expressions of concern by Indonesia and Malaysia over the tripartite Aukus group’s announcement last week regarding Australia’s submarine acquisition plans. Though Canberra had made clear it had no intention for the submarines – which are to be operational in the 2040s – to be armed with nuclear weapons, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he was concerned the development might “catalyse a nuclear arms race” in the Indo-Pacific. Click here to read…
Malaysia PM to sign cooperation pandemic pact
Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s coalition and the main opposition bloc is set to sign a cooperation pact on Sept 13 to ensure political stability during the COVID-19 pandemic, in a move that could also help the premier with any confidence vote. Parliament is scheduled to convene from Sept 13, but no date has been set for the confidence vote. In a joint statement published late on Sept 12, representatives from the government and the Pakatan Harapan opposition bloc – led by Anwar Ibrahim – said they have agreed to focus on “transformation initiatives and reforms.” “All parties have agreed that this MoU is aimed at returning political stability to the country in order to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and revive the economy through bi-partisan cooperation,” they said. The pact follows Ismail Sabri’s offer on Sept 10 to introduce political reforms including new laws to prevent defections and limit the term of a prime minister to 10 years, in a bid to win opposition support for his leadership. His offer also includes bipartisan agreement on every bill to be introduced in parliament, input from opposition parties on a national recovery council and immediate lowering of the minimum voting age from 21 to 18. Click here to read…
TTP’s enmity toward Pakistan creates risk for Chinese projects: analysts
By claiming it has close ties with the Afghan Taliban and no hostility toward China, the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is hoping to improve its circumstances following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, analysts said. But they warned that the TTP may continue its attacks in Pakistan and cause damage to China’s projects and personnel in the country. In an exclusive interview with Japanese media outlet Mainichi Shimbun, TTP leader Mufti Wali Noor Mehsud welcomed the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan after 20 years of absence and said that “we are hopeful for a strong relationship between the two of us.” The TTP, established in 2007, is an alliance of militant groups based in northwest Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan. Encouraged by the Afghan Taliban’s victory, the TTP wants to realize Pashtuns’ rule in Pakistan. This is an issue of concern for the Pakistan government, Zhang said, noting that the resurgence of extremist groups in the region may affect the regional situation and more problems may emerge after the US withdrawal. Click here to read…
Afghanistan’s Taliban Prohibit Girls From Attending Secondary School
Teenage Afghan girls weren’t allowed to return to school on Sept 18 as classrooms across the country reopened for the first time since the Taliban took power last month, raising fears that their new fundamentalist government will permanently ban secondary education for girls. The absence of teenage girls in classrooms, while their male peers returned, followed a decree issued by the Taliban on Sept 17 ordering male students and teachers to return to high schools and religious seminaries. The statement from the ministry of education didn’t mention girls, amounting to a de facto ban for now on them going to secondary school. The Taliban have allowed girls up to sixth grade to attend school, but they will be taught in separate classrooms from boys. Some private universities have also been allowed to open classrooms for girls, though most female students appear to be staying home out of fear. Afghanistan’s universities are regulated by a separate ministry from the ministry of education.The news raises fresh fears as to how the Taliban will treat Afghan women. Click here to read…
Japan PM candidates deny toning down views on hot-button issues to attract votes
Two of the candidates vying to become Japan’s next prime minister denied on Sept 18 they had toned down their positions on nuclear energy and gender issues to attract conservative backing in a tight ruling party leadership election this month. The winner of the Sept. 29 contest to lead the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is almost certain to succeed Yoshihide Suga as the country’s next premier because the party has a majority in the lower house. Suga announced he would step down two weeks ago amid sinking approval ratings, triggering the leadership race between four candidates. They are vaccine minister Taro Kono, 58, former foreign minister Fumio Kishida, 64, Sanae Takaichi, 60, a former internal affairs minister from the party’s most conservative wing, and Seiko Noda, 61, a former minister for gender equality. Surveys of voters show Kono is their top choice, a key factor ahead of a general election due by November. But the social-media savvy, U.S.-educated Kono, who has also served as foreign and defence minister, is widely seen as a maverick – an image that worries many veteran party members. Click here to read…
Comrades in arms? West is cheering on Russia’s Communists, but heirs of Bolsheviks even more skeptical of US, EU & NATO than Putin
According to the exit polls and those votes counted so far, the Communist Party (KPRF) is set to be the biggest winner from the drop in support for United Russia, the governing faction backed by President Vladimir Putin. The Communists are, however, the main – if not the only – nationwide opposition party that can challenge the direction of Putin and United Russia. As the largest opposition group, the KPRF was always likely to make gains after a turbulent few years of sanctions, rising prices and the socio-economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.It’s also worth asking why those in the Western media are so at ease with the prospect of the Communists doing well in Russia, three decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Few seem to be asking what it really means. Amid all the furore, it is easy to forget that Putin has historically positioned himself as a political moderate and did his part to prevent the return of the communists and keep the country on a market economy track. In the 1990s, then-President Boris Yeltsin’s entire liberal and pro-Western political platform collapsed when it became evident that Russia would be excluded from the new Europe, while the country faced socio-economic and political implosion. Click here to read…
Medical
China’s first giant quarantine station to be put into use
China’s first giant international health station providing quarantine and medical services to all inbound travellers is expected to be put into use in Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong Province in late September, which could reduce the infection risk during quarantine and replace quarantine hotels, media reports said on Sept 17.Construction of the first phase of the station has been completed and the first batch of 184 medical staff started working in the station on Sept 17. The 250,000-square-meter station with 5,074 rooms is China’s first international health station to replace quarantine hotels, jiemian.com reported on Sept 17. The first batch of medical staff will work with the help of artificial intelligence equipment to reduce unnecessary contact. Smart equipment can help travellers to have a temperature check, epidemiological investigation and check in and out, while a screen in the quarantine room can automatically upload health information and conduct temperature checks, with robots providing food and other daily necessities to travellers. Guangzhou experienced China’s first outbreak with the Delta variant in May. Click here to read…
India to resume COVID vaccine exports to COVAX, neighbours
The country’s monthly vaccine output has since more than doubled and is set to quadruple to more than 300 million doses next month, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, adding that only excess supplies would be exported. “We will help other countries and also fulfil our responsibility towards COVAX,” he told reporters on Sept 20. Media reports last week said India was considering restarting exports of COVID-19 vaccines soon. It donated or sold 66 million doses to nearly 100 countries before the export halt. The announcement on resumption of exports comes before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States this week where vaccines are likely to be discussed at a summit of the leaders of the Quad countries – the US, India, Japan and Australia. India wants to vaccinate all its 944 million adults by December and has so far given at least one dose to 64 percent of them and two doses to 22 percent. India’s inoculations have jumped since last month, especially as the world’s biggest vaccine maker, the Serum Institute of India, has more than trebled its output of the AstraZeneca shot to 200 million doses a month from April levels. Indian companies have set up the capacity to produce nearly three billion COVID vaccine doses a year. Click here to read…
UNSC P5 Seek Stable Afghanistan with Inclusive Govt: Tolo News
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday at a press conference said all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) are united in seeking a stable Afghanistan and an inclusive government. Click here to read
Afghan Newspapers Stop Printing, Go Online: Tolo News
Watchdog organizations recently said the Afghan media outlets are running out of funds and face a lack of information under the Taliban. Click here to read
It’s general amnesty, don’t defame IEA: Taliban’s acting defense minister to his fighters: The Khaama Press
The acting defense minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob called on foot soldiers that general amnesty has been announced and no one should defame the IEA with their arbitrary actions. Click here to read
Pakistan asks Intl-Community to be lenient with Taliban, release reserves: The Khaama Press
Pakistani foreign minister Mahmoud Qureshi has asked the US, IMF, and other countries to release billions of dollars frozen by them so that the situation gets better in Afghanistan. Click here to read
Utmost poverty, former Afghan policeman commits suicide: Tolo News
A former Afghan policeman commits suicide in eastern Kunar province after he was left without a job and the previous government did not pay his three months’ salary. Click here to read
Bangladesh
Time for action, not words, rhetoric- Daily Star
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the global community to turn their “words and rhetoric” over the Rohingya crisis into actions to reach a desired solution to the protracted problem. Click here to read
Maritime Disputes with India: Bangladesh asks UN to settle issues- Daily Star
Bangladesh has made a formal objection to the UN Secretary-General over certain maritime issues with India that are continuing even after their settlement in 2014. Click here to read
PM Hasina to address UNGA general debate on Friday- Dhaka Tribune
The prime minister’s speech will dominate the issues of Rohingya, climate change and post Covid-19 economic recovery. Click here to read
Law minister: Will allow Khaleda to go abroad if that’s what the people want- Dhaka Tribune
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will be allowed to go abroad for treatment if that is what the people of Bangladesh want, says Law Minister Anisul Huq. Click here to read
US to give $178m in aid for Rohingya- Asian Age
The United States will provide $178 million in humanitarian aid to Rohingya refugees and their host communities in Bangladesh and Myanmar. Click here to read
Grameen Bank sued for Tk 670m VAT ‘evasion- Asian Age
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has lodged a case against Grameen Bank for allegedly evading value added tax (VAT) of around Tk 67 crore. Click here to read
PM proposes developing ‘global resilient food system’- The Observer
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday called for developing a “resilient food system” globally by producing more food for growing population of the world as she placed a five-point recommendation at a summit in New York. Click here to read
Bhutan
Apple growers turn to Bhutan Agro as export options grow slim- Kuensel
Finding it difficult to sell their apples and with lower export prices this year, farmers are selling apples to Bhutan Agro Industries Limited (BAIL) at Nu 20 per kilogramme (kg). Click here to read
BHSL manufactures turbines- Kuensel
Bhutan Hydropower Service Limited (BHSL) in Jigmeling, Sarpang has started manufacturing runners (turbines) for the hydropower plants in the country and also for the hydropower projects in India and Turkey. Click here to read
Solar water heating system benefits public institutions- Kuensel
A 1,000-litre solar water heating system (SWHS) installed in 2018 at Bjishong Central School (BCS) in Gasa gave boarding students the luxury of bathing with hot water. Click here to read
Bhutan to pilot a central bank digital currency (CBDC) project with Ripple- Daily Bhutan
Email In a recent press release by the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan (RMA), Bhutan will be collaborating with Ripple Labs, Inc. to pilot a project on central bank digital currency (CBDC). Click here to read
HH appoints Principal and Lam- BBS
His Holiness the Je Khenpo appointed a new Principal for Rinchenling Shedra in Wangdue Phodrang and a new Lam for the Phuentshogling Zangtopelri in Chhukha. Click here to read
Maldives
New advisory committee formed under Education Act- AVAS
An advisory committee to offer counsel to the Education Ministry during emergency situations has been established. Click here to read
Monitoring mechanisms lifted from Dhuvaafaru after 120 days- AVAS
The Health Protection Agency (HPA)’s monitoring mechanisms have been lifted from Raa Dhuvaafaru island after 120 days. Click here to read
‘Hope to have King Salman Mosque inaugurated by Crown Prince’- AVAS
Maldives’ Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mohamed Khaleel has said the government hopes to have the ‘King Salman Mosque’ officially opened by Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohamed Bin Salman. Click here to read
Man arrested for posting threats against Nasheed jailed again- AVAS
The man arrested for posting death threats against the Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has been sentenced to jail for one month for contempt of court. Click here to read
HDC seeking party to install CCTVs at Hiyaa towers-AVAS
Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is seeking a party to procure and install CCTV cameras at the Hiyaa social housing towers. Click here to read
Pres Solih meets Portuguese pres on UNGA sidelines- AVAS
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has met with the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on the sidelines of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Click here to read
Myanmar
Mandalay youth leader killed in Kayah State battle- Myanmar Now
A 20-year-old protest leader dies in Demoso Township after arriving in Kayah State in early September to join the armed resistance against the coup regime. Click here to read
Eight Myanmar army soldiers defect to Chinland Defence Force- Myanmar Now
The Chinland Defence Force (CDF) claims that there are now eight soldiers who have deserted the Myanmar army and joined their resistance group over the last two months. Click here to read
Court hearings around Official Secrets Act charge commence for Aung San Suu Kyi and Sean Turnell- Myanmar Now
Suu Kyi, Turnell and three former cabinet members face up to 14 years in prison if convicted by the junta of violating the colonial-era law. Click here to read
Junta forces in Kalay arrest and kill man accused of making guns for resistance fighters- Myanmar Now
A family friend said Kyaw Min Oo, who owned a welding and lathing workshop, had never made weapons or been involved in armed resistance to the coup regime. Click here to read
Brother of Slain Myanmar Pastor Says Regime Fails to Take Accountability for Atrocities- Irrawaddy
When junta forces launched heavy artillery strikes on his hometown in western Myanmar’s Chin State on Saturday afternoon, setting fire to many houses, Christian Pastor Cung Biak Hum couldn’t stand still—he felt compelled to try to save his town. Click here to read
More Volunteers and Civilians Detained in Myanmar’s Anti-Regime Stronghold- Irrawaddy
Myanmar’s military regime has detained two volunteers who are aiding displaced people in Kayah State, as well as two residents of Loikaw Township in Kayah. Click here to read
Australian adviser to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi appears in military court- Eleven
An Australian adviser to Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in a military court to face immigration and official secrets charges, a lawyer involved in the case said on Thursday (Sept 23). Click here to read
Urgent action needed to end catastrophe in Myanmar: UN report- The Observer
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Thursday said urgent action is needed to prevent the situation in Myanmar from spiraling into a full-blown conflict. Click here to read
Nepal
National Assembly passes Appropriation Bill-2021- Himalaya
National Assembly has passed the Appropriation Bill-2021 BS, on 23 September. Click here to read
KMC allows schools to open conditionally- Himalaya
Kathmandu Metropolitan City has decided to allow all the schools inside the metropolis to conduct in-person classes conditionally, with effect from September 26. Click here to read
Unmanaged border crossings may expose Nepal’s Achilles heel in stemming Covid-19- Kathmandu Post
Tens of thousands of people enter the country daily through checkpoints set up at various land crossings with India. Click here to read
‘Death sentence’: low-lying nations implore faster action on climate at U.N.- Republica
The failure by developed economies to effectively curb their greenhouse gas emissions contributes to rising sea levels and especially imperils island and low-lying nations at the mercy of water. Click here to read
NC to hold district convention in mountainous districts before Dashain. – Republica
The Nepali Congress has decided to conduct the district conventions of the party in the mountainous region before Dashain festival. Click here to read
Climate change in agriculture: Nepal food security at stake due to apathetic govt, unaware farmers- OnlineKhabar
Today, no one except those producing and selling vegetables on a large scale cultivates onions in the village. Click here to read
Pakistan
Qureshi meets Blinken, urges engagement with Taliban: Dawn
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in New York on Thursday on the sidelines of the 76th United Nations General Assembly sessioClick here to read
Pakistan, China agree not to alter tariff on power deals: Dawn
Pakistan and China on Thursday agreed to keep unchanged the tariff and tax policies relating to power sector contracts and arrest and prosecute the attackers of July 14 Dasu bus tragedy at the earliest. Click here to read
Pakistan urges OIC to take concrete steps for resolution of Kashmir issue: Dawn
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has called upon members states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take concrete steps to resolve the long-standing Kashmir dispute, saying “Kashmiri people counted on the OIC and the Muslim Ummah more than ever”. Click here to read
EVMs a plot to rig next general elections, says Maryam: The Express Tribune
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz termed on Thursday the government’s proposal to use the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) a plot for rigging the next general elections. Click here to read
If population grows at current pace, Pakistan may face issues of hunger, poverty: PM: The News
Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said if food crops production did not increase and the population explosion continued, the country might face famine and poverty in the years to come. Click here to read
Pak, Saudi leadership capable of leading world: President Alvi: The News
President Dr Arif Alvi Thursday, while lauding their approach on international issues, said the leadership of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was capable to lead the world through their vision. Click here to read
Sri Lanka
Questionable deal with US energy firm: Professionals’ National Front asks whether govt. received AG’s consent – The Island
Professionals’ National Front (PNP) Spokesperson Kapila Renuka Perera yesterday warned of dire consequences of going ahead with the government’s controversial agreement with the US energy firm New Fortress Energy. Click here to read
PM to head CoL meeting today – Daily FT
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will lead the Cost-of-Living (CoL) Committee meeting today which will decide on the essential goods price hike and resolve certain issues related to import containers stuck at Colombo Port. Click here to read
1,368 persons test positive for COVID-19 – Daily FT
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections rose to 510,040 with 1,368 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday. Click here to read
National Peace Council Welcomes President’s speech at UN; says joint effort key for reconciliation – Daily FT
The National Peace Council in a statement yesterday welcomed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s speech at the UN General Assembly but emphasised a joint effort is required for reconciliation to become a reality. Click here to read
Full text of Xi’s statement at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly: Global Times
September 22, 2021
The year 2021 is a truly remarkable one for the Chinese people. This year marks the centenary of the Communist Party of China. It is also the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations, a historic event which will be solemnly commemorated by China. We will continue our active efforts to take China’s cooperation with the United Nations to a new level and make new and greater contributions to advancing the noble cause of the UN. Click here to read…
Central SOEs to invest big in Tibet in 2021-2025 period: Xinhuanet
September 21, 2021
China’s centrally administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs) will invest more than 260 billion yuan (about 40 billion U.S. dollars) in the southwestern Tibet Autonomous Region during the 2021-2025 period. They also plan to provide a combined aid of 2.2 billion yuan to Tibet, according to a conference on central SOEs supporting Tibet’s development on Friday, during which many companies unveiled their investment plans in the region. Click here to read…
Police strengthen fight to protect personal information online: China Daily
September 22, 2021
Chinese police pledged to strengthen the fight against those stealing people’s personal information to keep public order in cyberspace and effectively protect internet security. “We’ve put a lot of attention into investigating and combating offenses and violations involving personal information in recent years, as the issue concerns every resident’s interests and most complaints among the public,” Wang Yingwei, head of the Ministry of Public Security’s cybersecurity bureau, said at a news conference held by the State Council Information Office on Friday.
PLA joins SCO anti-terrorism exercise in Russia: China Daily
September 22, 2021
Peace Mission 2021, a large multinational counterterrorism exercise involving member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, opened on Monday at a military training base in Orenburg, southwest Russia. About 4,000 officers and soldiers from eight SCO members, including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and India, are taking part in the exercise at the Donguz firing range.
China’s investment in R&D up 10.2% in 2020: China Daily
September 22, 2021
China’s investment in research and development hit 2.44 trillion yuan in 2020, surging 10.2 percent year-on-year, according to a latest report jointly released Wednesday by the National Bureau of Statistics, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Finance.
PLA holds Y-20 aircraft transport mission, landing drills in South China Sea: Global Times
September 21, 2021
In two recent, separate moves in the South China Sea, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) dispatched Y-20 large transport aircraft to reefs for troop transport missions, and conducted amphibious landing drills under complex conditions, showing the PLA’s capabilities in safeguarding peace and stability in the region, analysts said on Tuesday.
Evergrande chairman projects confidence amid debt crisis: Global Times
September 21, 2021
Xu Jiayin, chairman of embattled Chinese real estate giant Evergrande Group, on Tuesday sought to project confidence that the company will recovery from its debt crisis, as concerns are mounting over whether the over-stretched Chinese property giant will emerge from its debt-induced woes. Click here to read…
US espionage prosecutions ‘discriminatory’ against Chinese and Asian defendants, says Committee of 100: South China Morning Post
September 22, 2021
Espionage prosecutions in the US have punished Chinese and Asian defendants more severely, and may have falsely accused them more often than Western defendants, according to a new report. Sponsored by the Committee of 100 (C100), a non-profit organisation promoting US-China relations, the study examined court filings of 190 Economic Espionage Act (EEA) cases involving 276 defendants between 1996 and 2020, and found disparities in the way that defendants with Asian or Chinese names versus more Western names have been arrested and sentenced. Click here to read…
US-China technology FDI crashes but decoupling is ‘not imminent’: South China Morning Post
September 21, 2021
Technology-related foreign direct investment (FDI) between China and the US dropped by 96 per cent from 2016 to 2020, as the world’s two biggest economies decouple their supply chains as part of their increasingly bitter great power rivalry. And, if successful, the United States’ push to build up a supply chain coalition against China could pose a greater challenge to Beijing which has invested heavily in technology and supply chain independence, Boston-headquartered consultancy Bain & Company said in its latest technology report 2021, released on Monday.
China’s curbs on steel production, pollution and energy consumption send iron ore prices tumbling: South China Morning Post
September 22, 2021
Investors are fire-selling mining stocks, iron ore traders are losing money, and smaller miners are pulling back shipments because of falling iron ore prices driven by tumbling Chinese demand. Even usual seasonal factors, such as lower Chinese steel demand ahead of winter, will have little impact on plunging prices that have sent the iron ore supply chain reeling, as the downward momentum caused by fundamental changes to China’s steel and iron ore demand gets under way, analysts say.
Iron curtain falls on HK cinema as mainland-type censorship takes hold: Taipei Times
September 22, 2021
Once renowned for world-class cinema, Hong Kong’s film industry was already struggling before the latest hurdle — Chinese mainland-style censorship as authorities take their purge of dissent into the cultural sphere. Filmmaker Mok Kwan-ling’s heart sank when the e-mail from the government censors dropped.
Chinese vice premier stresses building market-oriented, law-based, internationalized business environment: Xinhuanet
September 20, 2021
Chinese vice premier Han Zheng has called efforts to build a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment and accelerate the development of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone. Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour to the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province from Saturday to Sunday. Click here to read…
Fish-shaped nanorobotics developed to help deliver medicine in vivo: Xinhuanet
September 20, 2021
Chinese researchers have 3D-printed nanostructures using genetically engineering recombinant spider silk proteins at a sub-15 nm resolution, which are expected to be applied in bionic perception and nanorobots for drug delivery and the like in the future.The nanofishes with barbels are able to “swim” in a glucose-containing environment of the human body, and certain conditions are set to trigger the release of the medicine that the nanodevices carry. Click here to read…
Hong Kong police arrest 3 members of Student Politicism : People’s Daily
September 21, 2021
Hong Kong police on Monday arrested three student members of the Student Politicism group on suspicion of conspiracy to incite subversion against state power. Senior Superintendent Steve Li of the police force’s national security department said the police arrested two men and one woman, aged between 18 and 20. Click here to read…
Chinese self-driving bus clears open road test in Paris: People’s Daily
September 21, 2021
A 12-meter-long self-driving bus made by China’s CRRC Electric Vehicle went on trial run on open road in Paris over the weekend. The vehicle cleared a six-kilometer section along a bus route in southeast Paris on Friday. In about 40 minutes, it passed 26 traffic lights and ten bus stops. The bus is scheduled to start regular passenger services in autumn next year. Click here to read…
PLA in market for Russian Ka-52K heavy attack helicopters: South China Morning Post
September 21, 2021
China is considering buying three dozen Russian naval attack helicopters, a purchase that would “give wings” to the Chinese military’s new generation of amphibious assault ships.
Military analysts said the deal for the Russian Ka-52Ks would be the third biggest for China and would signal a closer defence partnership between the two countries in the face of US hostility. Click here to read…
China ‘regrets’ WTO Appellate Body cannot hear its appeal over US solar panels tariffs ruling: South China Morning Post
September 21, 2021
China appealed a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute ruling that rejected the nation’s claims against the United States relating to safeguard measures that the Trump administration imposed on solar panels imported from Chinese manufacturers. Earlier this month, a WTO panel said China failed to establish that Washington’s safeguards against imports of certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells are inconsistent with the rules of the global trade body on the measures.
China debt concerns mounting as Beijing shifts attention to hidden local government financing: South China Morning Post
September 20, 2021
Concerns are mounting over how local governments in China will pay back so-called hidden debts raised through self-issued bonds, especially as Beijing is increasing controls to prevent a meltdown in its largely state-dominated financial system. After years of poor infrastructure returns, Beijing has flagged concerns over local government financing vehicles (LGFVs), which are typically entities set up by authorities to fund infrastructure projects. US rating agency Moody’s Investors Service said in a report last week that China’s tightening of LGFV debt will drive many local governments to expand their commercial exposures to generate cash flow. Click here to read…
China census: analysis shows 149 cities are now in the ‘deep ageing’ population category in a troubling sign for future economic growth: South China Morning Post
September 21, 2021
China’s ageing population problem continues to cause concern, with new census figures revealing 14 per cent of the population in 149 cities are aged 65 and over. This month state media outlet China Business News released data it had compiled from the recent census which revealed what is referred to as “deep ageing” where the proportion of the population aged over 65 exceeds 14 per cent. An ageing society is where more than seven per cent are aged 65 and over, when the figure reaches 20 per cent the term changes to super ageing. Click here to read…
CCP’s crackdown no match for Hollywood: Taipei Times
September 21, 2021
As Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) government looks to tame China’s celebrities, the popularity of a new Universal Studios theme park in Beijing shows Hollywood’s enduring soft power among the nation’s 1.4 billion people. Tickets for yesterday’s grand opening, priced at 638 yuan (US$98.67), sold out within 30 minutes of going online last week — as did rooms costing as much as 20,000 yuan at the resort’s two hotels, state-run media reported. Click here to read…
Didi co-founder Liu told associates she plans to leave: Reuters
September 20, 2021
Didi Global Inc (DIDI.N) co-founder and President Jean Liu has told some close associates that she intends to step down, two sources familiar with the matter said, as the Chinese ride-hailing giant faces intense regulatory scrutiny following its New York listing earlier this year. Liu, 43, has in recent weeks told some associates that she expected the government to eventually take control of Didi and appoint new management, said the two sources. Click here to read…
In the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) which is ongoing in New York City, the political situation in Afghanistan, COVID-19 and issues around climate change dominated the summit. Click here to read
Five Killed in Five Attacks in Jalalabad: Tolo News
Jalalabad city in the eastern province of Nangarhar witnessed five security incidents on Wednesday morning. Four explosions in different parts of the city took the lives of two people and injured three others, eyewitnesses told TOLOnews. Click here to read
Bakhtarian Treasure is safe and preserved in Kabul: Taliban: The Khaama Press
Officials of the ministry of information and culture said that the Bakhtarian Treasure is kept in Kabul and assured of its full safety and security. Click here to read
Taliban asks UN to accept their permanent representative: The Khaama Press
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in a letter to the United Nations said that the spokesperson of their political office in Doha, Sohail Shaheen to be accepted as the new permanent representative of Afghanistan to the UN. Click here to read
Intl-Community should engage with Taliban, prevent its isolation: Qatar: The Khaama Press
Qatari Emir Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani called on the international community to get engaged with the Taliban and provide the country with humanitarian aid so that they prevent the country’s isolation. Click here to read
Kabul Restaurants Owned, Staffed by Women Now Closed: Tolo News
Women-owned businesses, especially restaurants and cafes, have remained closed for the past month since the Taliban entered Kabul city. Click here to read
Bangladesh
E-commerce transactions hit five-month low- The Daily Star
Appetite for purchases through online platforms declined in July from a month ago, as people became cautious in placing orders when a series of scams centring e-commerce companies started coming to the light. Click here to read
Local Body Polls: Uncontested wins, rebels bug AL- The Daily Star
The ruling Awami League finds itself in a strange predicament over local body polls. Click here to read
Bangladesh to export 2,080 tonnes of hilsha to India- The Daily Star
The commerce ministry today gave go-ahead to 52 companies to export 2,080 tonnes of hilsa fish to India by October 10 this year. Click here to read
Another satellite on the cards- Dhaka Tribune
Government encouraged by domestic success of Bangabandhu-1, efforts to find foreign buyers underway. Click here to read
ADB revises Bangladesh’s GDP outlook down to 6.8%- Dhaka Tribune
Bangladesh remains one of the few countries to achieve commendable economic growth amid the pandemic, says ADB. Click here to read
US declares $180m assistance for Rohingyas; total reaches $1.5b- Dhaka Tribune
Funding also provides support to members of the local host community in Bangladesh.Click here to read
Global inaction over Rohingya repatriation shocks Bangladesh: PM- Asian Age
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has demanded intensified global actions with “real urgency” to repatriate Rohingyas. Click here to read
Declare Covid vaccines ‘global public good’: PM- Asian Age
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called to declare the Covid-19 vaccines as ‘global public good’. Click here to read
5G to be launched at end of 2021: Joy- Observer
Prime Minister’s Information and Communication Technology Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy has revealed that the launching of 5G service in Bangladesh will take place at the end of this yearClick here to read
Bangladesh reports 1,376 fresh cases, 36 deaths from COVID-19- The Independent
Bangladesh today reported 1,376 COVID-19 cases while the coronavirus claimed overnight 36 lives. Click here to read
Bangladesh Bank relaxes forex rules in export, import- Financial Express
The Bangladesh Bank (BB) has brought relaxation in foreign-exchange regulations in export, import, remittance and other trade services to overcome economic challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Click here to read
SAARC calls off FM-level talks over Afghan representation row- New Age
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation on Wednesday called off a meeting of its Council of Foreign Ministers due to a lack of support from some member countries. Click here to read
Bhutan
Hydropower generation decreases by over 12 percent- Kuensel
Hydropower, which has remained the bedrock of the economy during the Covid-19 pandemic, recorded a 12.7 percent decrease in generation in the first eight months of 2021, compared to a corresponding time period last year. Click here to read
Graduates perform poorly in civil service preliminary exams- Kuensel
Close to 70 percent of graduates who appeared in the Bhutan Civil Service Examination’s (BCSE) preliminary examination (PE) did not qualify for the main examination. Click here to read
GoI finalises commitment to allocate Nu 45B for the 12th Five Year Plan- Kuensel
Foreign Secretary Kinga Singye and Ambassador of India to Bhutan, Ruchira Kamboj, signed the minutes of the third Bhutan-India Development Cooperation Talks yesterday. Click here to read
PM hosts reception to mark 50th anniversary of Bhutan’s membership to UN- BBS
The Prime Minister hosted a reception to mark the 50th anniversary of Bhutan’s membership to the United Nations yesterday. Bhutan formally became the 128th member of the UN in 1971. Click here to read
Finance minister to assume roles of Chair and Vice-Chair for the World Bank’s Small States Forum- BBS
The finance minister Namgay Tshering will step in as the Chair of Small States Forum and the Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors of the World Bank Group. He is the country’s first finance minister to assume the roles. Click here to read
Maldives
Addu Police Academy is not an Indian asset, it will be operated by the Police: Ambassador- The Edition
The Indian Ambassador to Maldives Sunjay Sudhir said that the Police Academy being developed in Addu with grant aid from India is not an Indian asset but rather belongs to the Maldivian police. Click here to read
Ali Waheed: Not guilty, is being set up- The Edition
Former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed, accused of rape and sexually assaulting employees while he was in office, stated on Monday that he did not commit any of the crimes he has been accused of. Click here to read
Cardiac center services resume at Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital- MVAVAS
Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital (KRC)’s Cardiac Centre services have been resumed. Click here to read
Aasandha to discontinue COVID-19 easements from October-MVAVAS
Aasandha has brought changes to the new regulations it introduced to ease COVID-19 difficulties. Click here to read
BML Islamic upgrades home improvement facility to include cash payments-MVAVAS
Bank of Maldives (BML)’s Islamic Branch has upgraded its ‘Home Improvement Financing’ facility for social housing flat recipients to include cash payments. Click here to read
UNGA statement testament to Maldives’ prowess in the global community-MVAVAS
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that being able to address the presidency of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in Maldives’ mother tongue, Dhivehi, is a testament to Maldives’ successes as a small, sovereign, island state. Click here to read
Maldives will continue to call for full recognition of Palestine: Pres-MVAVAS
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said the Government and the people of Maldives stand firmly and resolutely with the Palestinian people. Click here to read
Myanmar
Thousands of civilians flee Myanmar town after military clash with rebels: The Guardian
Thousands have fled a town in western Myanmar after days of fighting between anti-junta dissidents and the military, during which soldiers bombed civilian homes, according to residents and mediaClick here to read
Myanmar Junta’s Internet Blackout Violates Residents’ Rights: The Irrawaddy
The Myanmar junta’s continuous blocking of the internet in Kachin State’s Hpakant Township and townships in Sagaing Region is increasing security concerns and violating the socio-economic rights of residents, say locals.https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-juntas-internet-blackout-violates-residents-rights.html” target=”_blank”>Click here to read
Suu Kyi pleads ‘not guilty’ as junta court indicts her on incitement charges : Myanmar Now
A military council court in Naypyitaw indicted detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday for incitement under Section 505b of the Penal Code, according to her legal defence team. Click here to read
Nepal
Narayan Khadka is the new foreign affairs minister of Nepal- Online Khabar
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has appointed his Nepali Congress party’s member Narayan Khadka as the foreign affairs minister of his cabinet on Wednesday. Click here to read
Nepal-China border ‘dispute’: Govt team busy visiting border pillars in Humla- Online Khabar
The border monitoring team of the Ministry of Home Affairs deployed to study the alleged Nepal-China border dispute has reached Hilsa in Humla after visiting a border pillar at Limi Lapcha area in the district. Click here to read
New rule may prevent conflicts of interest in user groups- Kathmandu Post
Elected officials, office-bearers of political parties and government staff, among others, may be denied seats on user committees for public projects. Click here to read
Deuba faces censure from own party over Cabinet expansion- Kathmandu Post
The ruling coalition, despite a series of meetings, has failed to provide names for ministerial posts, earning bad repute for the government. Click here to read
1251 new Covid-19 cases surface on Wednesday, active caseload stands at 21139- Himalaya Post
Nepal’s coronavirus caseload reached 787,828 on Wednesday with 1,251 more people testing positive for the infection in the past 24 hours. Click here to read
Human trafficking cases increasing amid coronavirus pandemic in Sudurpaschim- Himalaya Post
Cases related to human trafficking have increased amid the coronavirus pandemic in Sudurpaschim province. Click here to read
Chinese President Xi, PM Li, UNSG extend best wishes to Nepal- Himalaya
Chinese President Xi Jinping, China’s Premier Li Keqiang, and United Nation Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have extended their best wishes to the head of the state and the head of the government in Nepal. Click here to read
40% Of Valley People Fully Vaccinated For COVID-19- Rising Nepal
With the vaccination campaign as the first priority of government, 40 per cent of people in the Kathmandu Valley have already received both doses of vaccine. Click here to read
Pakistan
Tarin unveils steps to curb imports ahead of IMF talks: Dawn
Speaking at a hurriedly called news conference along with prime minister’s special assistant Jamshed Iqbal Cheema and Minister of State for Information Furrukh Habib, the finance minister said the government would immediately reduce the prices of vegetable ghee, sugar and wheat across the country. Click here to read
China’s no to coal plants raises questions about $50bn investment: Dawn
China’s pledge to stop building coal-fired power plants overseas could cull $50 billion of investment as it slashes future carbon emissions, analysts said. Click here to read
Taliban apologise to Pakistan over flag removal incident at Torkham border: The Express Tribune
The interim government in Afghanistan on Wednesday apologised to Pakistan over a flags’ removal incident from aid trucks at the Torkham border, calling it “regrettable”. Click here to read
Pakistan wants better ties with US: Qureshi: The Express Tribune
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said Pakistan wants a strong relationship with the US beyond counter-terrorism and Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US troops from the war-torn country. Click here to read
Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan conclude military drills: ISPR: The Express Tribune
A two-week long trilateral exercise between military contingents of Pakistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan in Baku has concluded, said a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2321392/pakistan-turkey-azerbaijan-conclude-military-drills-ispr” target=”_blank”>Click here to read
Stop supporting crumbling govt, Nawaz asks institutions: The News
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) supremo and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has urged the institutions to stop shouldering the government, which is about to fall. Click here to read
National security is empowerment of people: Moeed: The News
Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf on Wednesday said the government was pursuing economic security which ultimately would contribute to national security and people’s welfareClick here to read
ADB lowers GDP growth forecast for SL and rest of developing Asia – Daily FT
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lowered Sri Lanka’s 2021 GDP growth forecast to 3.4% from 4.1% estimated in the April. Click here to read
1,342 persons test positive for COVID-19 – Daily FT
The detection of 1,342 COVID-19 patients yesterday brought the country’s COVID-19 case count to 508,672. Click here to read
SAARC meet cancelled as Pakistan insists on Taliban participation – Ceylon Today
A meeting of foreign ministers of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries, slated to be held on Saturday in New York, has been cancelled. Click here to read
